Respiratory Emergencies Flashcards
COPD
irreversible and progressive leading to reduced ability to inhale and exhale adequately resulting in dyspnoea on minimal exertion and chronic cough
emphysema
progressive and includes: destruction of alveoli
failure to maintain alveolar integrity
enlargement of air spaces beyond terminal bronchioles
emphysema results in
reduced:: vascular surface area for gas exchange, elasticity and air trapping
increased:: residual volume, resistance to blood flow
chronic SOB and increased WOB
barrel chest
Chronic bronchitis
inflammatory changes within the lungs
excessive production of mucous
caused by prolonged exposure to irritants
lumen of bronchi becomes narrower as excessively mucous filled
ASthma
severe reversible airways disease with increased airway resistance caused by bronchospasm, swelling of mucosal membranes of bronchial walls and hypersecretion of sputum that impedes air flow
air flow resistance in asthma leads to
alveolar hypoventilation
ventilation oerfusion mismatch
co2 retention
Pneumonia
infeciton of lung
may be bacterial, viral or fungal
pneumonia is spread by:
droplet contact
contact with infected persons
aspiration of bacteria from nasopharynx
Acute resp distress syndrome ARDS
resp failure with acute lung inflammation, diffuse alveolar capillary injury
ARDS results in
lungs wet, heavy, congested, stiff
reduced alveolar perfusion
Pneumothorax
air collect in pleural space
may be caused by trauma, intrinsic factors or may be spontaneous
if air continues to collect in this space, the lung will not be able to fill adequately
pneumothorax may lead to
dyspnoea tachypnoea chest pain pallor diaphoresis
Pleurisy
inflammation of parietal pleura
Plurisy leads to
exudate in the pleural space dyspnoea stabbing chest pain restricted breathing spasms on affected side friction rub
Causes of pleurisy
pneumonia pulmonary infarction tuberculosis an abcess of the lung or chest wall bronchial carcinoma
Pleural effusion
an excessive collection of fluid or exudate in pleural space
fluid may be high or low protein content and this is used to classify condition
Pleural effusion may be result of:
trauma
death of pulmonary tissue (infarction)
cancerous growth
infections such as tuberculosis
tuberculosis
common infectious bacterial disease
often attacks lungs
creates tubercules in lungs (pus filled areas)
Pulmonary EMbolism
occurs when pulmonary artery is blocked by a blood clot or other foreign matter
contributing factors of pulmonary embolism
venostasis venous injury increased coagulability pregnancy multiple trauma
Chest xrays are indicated for:
chest pain
dyspnoea
thoracic trauma
Chest xrays evaulate
lung parenchyma
cardiac size
mediastinal size
bony structures of chest wall
Function of xray machine
xray tube containing a cathode and anode emits an xray beam which passes through the body
ionised radiation is absorbed by body’s tissues
AP view
beam passes through anterior surface first then through posterior
PA view
beam passes through posterior surface first then through anterior
L
lateral view, left side closest to film
R
lateral view, right side closest to film
RAO
righr anterior oblique
LAO
left anterior oblique
RPO
right posterior oblique
LPO
left posterior oblique
Advantages of xray
cheap readily available minimally invasive test environment high specificity for bone good initial snapshot
DIsadvantages for xray
pregnancy obesity radiation exposure positioning difficulty infants
Chest xray
PA position preferred as it allows scapula to be rolled off the lung fields for better visualisation
erect positioning is preferred as gravity causes fluid to settle
heart will be closer to film therefore less magnification
COmputed tomography
cross sectional imaging of the body
involved multiple fine slices at pre-determined widths to determine anatomy and pathology
Drawbacks of computed tomography
radiation dose
claustrophobia
artifact if pt has metallic prosthesis insitu such as joint replacements and dental fillings
